If you're constantly pulling your locs into the same style or using hair accessories that are too tight these are quick ways to damage your hair follicles and cause thinning. Also, excessive tension at the roots, especially with interlocking maintenance that's performed too frequently, will also cause thinning locs.
The dreads will generally phatten up a bit as they mature so you'll gain some thickness/fullness in the first 3/4 months. During tightening the tips draw up towards the roots making the dreads shorter and wider.
Let's start with classic dreadlocks, which are usually 1,2 - 1.5 cm thick, I would compare this thickness to the Sharpie pen, the thickness of which we are all familliar with. Experience tells me that the amount of 60SE / 30DE will create a full head set.
In the locs process, the Starter Stage (also known as the Baby Stage) lasts roughly for three to six months. But how long this stage lasts depends on a couple things, such as your hair type and how fast your hair grows.
3. They Sometimes Get Thicker Over Time. No matter what your locs look like when you install them, they'll most likely look radically different in a couple years time. A lot of the time, the locs will thicken up as they mature.
Having your scalp massaged regularly will stimulate the blood flow to your head (and your dreadlocks), pumping nutrients to the follicles while causing them to grow quicker.
However, when dreads mature throughout the stages, they will get thinner and thicker at different points. In addition, the length and thickness will fluctuate during the first couple of years as your hair becomes matted. Healthy dreadlocks are typically a little thicker when they mature than when you started them.
A lack of maintenance
If you're waiting too long between twisting your dreads, you'll notice your locs becoming a lot thinner. Since new hair follicles need to be twisted into the deadlock, these follicles can eventually fall out if left alone. This results in thinning dreadlocks.
Locs can unravel at any time. They may unravel at day one, week 1 or even a month in. Regardless of the reason, do not be dismayed. Once you identified the reason for the unravelling, you are able to figure out a solution or realize that this may continue to happen until your hair decides to loc.
Give Your Locs a Break
They shampoo and groom their locs, including palm rolling or interlocking far too often, resulting in tighter, slimmer locs. If you want to grow thicker locs, you'll have to groom them far less frequently. Your locs don't need to be retwisted any more often than every six weeks (at least).
You'll know your locks have left the budding stage once they begin to swell, and maintain their shape on their own while looking more cohesive in texture. Teenage locs may seem to stand on end all over your head and go in whatever direction they want as the matted hair thickens and becomes taught at the root.
Helps with Hair Growth- Brushing your locs stimulates the hair follicles just like a hands-on scalp massage would. This stimulation causes more blood to flow to the scalp, delivering tons of oxygen and nutrients to your follicles for quicker growth.
The key is to keep your hair hydrated with moisture daily, sealed with a natural oil and protected a night. You also need to keep your scalp clean and stimulated with techniques like loc brushing, and moisturizing on a daily (or at least every other day).
In some cases, they can even cause receding hairlines, hair loss and even baldness. If your braids and dreads start to recede, appear thin, or shed in large amounts, you may be suffering from what's known as Traction Alopecia.
If your locs are thinning towards the middle, or end of the loc and you absolutely do not want to trim those beautiful locs, we suggest tying a tight knot over the thinning end. Then palm roll the knot carefully and gently until the loc appears homogeneous enough to your taste.
Once your locs are mature, we recommend you deep condition every 1-2 weeks to keep your locs healthy, strong, and moisturized. NaturAll's Fresh Frozé Treatment Deep Conditioners not only keep your locs moisturized, but consistent use will keep your locs strong, healthy, and vibrant.
The five stages of locs are: starter, budding, teen, mature, and rooted. While your loc journey can take between 18-24 months, some loc-wearers find the beginning and end phases to be the easiest, because the middle stages present their own set of challenges.
Both types of dreadlocks are ideal for different individuals. The people who want a fuller look with fine hair texture must opt for thin dreadlocks. On the other hand, individuals who are not so picky about their hairstyles can go with thick locks.
It's worth noting that hair in dreadlocks grows just as fast as undreaded hair, it's only the speed that the dreadlocks gain length that changes compared to the speed that undreaded natural hair gains length. In other words, when your hair is in dreadlocks, it grows at the same speed, it just has further to go!
Was that a spoiler? If you're considering trimming your locs because you feel like they'll grow faster and longer, it's not really the case. Though that may have been true for your loose hair, trimming locs isn't necessary. So no, you don't need to trim your locs to maintain healthy locs.